Spring-and-bracket connection for platform-rockers



(No Model.)

C. J. SHULTS. SPRING AND BRACKET CONNECTION FOR PLATFORM ROCKERS.

Patented-Apr. 8, 1890.

v eo

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE J. SHULTS, OF AVOCA, NEW YORK.

SPRING-AND-BRACKET CONNECTION FOR PLATFORM-ROCKERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,149, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed May 27, 1889. Serial No. 312,325.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. SHULTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avoca, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-and-Bracket Connections for Platform-Rockers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in rocking-chairs of that class in which a rocker-frame is mounted upon and connected to a stationary base-frame; and the purpose of said invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durable elastic connection adapted to be applied to the movable and immovable parts of a chair of this type,

whereby the stress upon said connection is re-enforced at or near the points of greatest departure from the normal point of contact between the rockers and rails, thereby centering the chair upon its base and preventing the rupture or elastic degeneration of the spring-connections. It is my purpose, also, to provide a bracket-support of simple form capable of ready attachment to the rockerframe and base-frame of a rocking-chair and adapted to firmly and rigidly attach the elastic connection in position to enable it to limit the oscillatory movement of the rocker and center it upon its base, the construction of the bracket being such as to permit the attachment of an independent supplemental coil upon the same point of support and permit the instantaneous and ready attachment or detachment of the main coil and supplemental coil. It is my purpose, also, to provide a rocking chair with single duplex springs, wound in opposite directions and connected to the rockers and the base-frame, respectively, on each side, said duplex-spring connections being wound in opposite directions,whereby the rotary displacement caused by one coil shall be supplemented by the opposite twist of the other.'

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in-the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the base of a rockingbhair having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the spring-supporting brackets, showing the coils disconnected therefrom. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of one part of the chair-base, taken centrally through the spring. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one of the elastic connections, showing aslightlymodified construction.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the base-frame, which is of any usualior desired form, and the numeral 2 designates the rocker-frame mounted thereon. In order to connect these parts in such manner as to permit free oscillation and at the same time center the rocker upon its rails, I adopt the following construction and combinations of parts:

The numeral 3, Fig. 2, denotes a bracket which may consist of a substantially fiat plate having angular lugs 4, which rest against the inner face of the rocker and receive screws passing into the wood, whereby the bracket is attached in a horizontal position and in or about in the perpendicular line passing through the point where the rocker normally contacts with its rail. Upon the surface of this bracket near its edge is formed a groove or channel 5, the corners of the bracket being cutaway to form shoulders 6, which contain notches 7, lying at the ends of said groove and adapted to receive and support the parallel parts of the elastic connections,as described hereinafter. Asimilar bracket 8 is provided and adapted to be attached to the base-frame in an inverted posi tion relatively to the bracket 3.

The numeral 9 designates an outer coil of spring-wire,havingits opposite terminals bent into half-loops 10, which lie in one end of the channels 5 of the brackets, one of said halfloops engaging with the upper bracket 3 and the other with the lower bracket 8. WVithin this outer coil is a second independent coil 12, concentric, or substantially so, with the first coil and provided at each end with halfloops 13, similar to those upon the outer coil, and lying in the ends of the channels 5 of the brackets 3 10. The half-loops at each end of the respective springs extend inwardly toward the axes of the springs, and are both in the same plane, so that they can rest in one and the same groove of a bracket 3 or 8, and,

and 8, opposite the half-loops further, the two springs are coextensive in height, thereby adapting the halt-loops on each end of the respective springs to rest in the same groove of a bracket. The wire forming the inner coil 12 may be of larger gage than that of the outer coil, as shown in Fig. 4, or the outer coil may be the larger wire, if preferred.

A notch 1i may be formed in the outer rib 15 of: the bracket for the insertion of a screwdriver or other tool under the ends of the half-loops to enable the latter to be sprung out of the groove. The parallel arms 16 of these half-loops lie in the notches 7, which are arranged at the ends of the channels 5, containing the loops supporting the inner and outer coils, and by these notches all lateral displacement of the loops is effectually prevented, while the channels 5, containing the loops, hold the latter securely against rotary displacement or twist, whereby they might but for such construction be constantly thrown oft the bracket.

The coils 9 and 12 are wound in opposite directions, in order that the rotary displacement frequently experienced in chairs of this class, and by which the rocker-frame is liable to rock off the base, shall be wholly avoided by reason of the resistance to such displacement which one coil offers to the other.

I make no claim in this case to an inner and an outer spring-coil having loops by which they are mounted on the rocker and base frame when said coils are formed of a continuous wire, as such matter forms the subject of a separate application filed by me on the 23d day of May, 1 889, Serial No. 319,526.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A bracket adapted to be applied to a stationary-base roeking-chair to support the elastic connection between the parts, said bracket having an angular base adapted to receive fastening'screws and provided with a groove to receive the loop or half-loops of the springs, shoulders being formed at the ends of said groove and provided with notches receiving the parallel or depending arms of the coils, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with two attachable and detachable brackets having grooves and provided with shoulders having notches which lie at the ends of said grooves, of two independent spring-coils, one arranged within the other, said coils having their terminals bent to form half-loops adapted to lie in the grooves of the brackets, substantially as described.

23. The combinatiomwith supporting-brackets having channels and provided with shoulders having notches which lie at the ends of said channels, of duplex-spring connections consisting of independent coils of wire wound in opposite directions and having halt-loops engaging said channels, substantially as described.

l. The combination, with the base-frame and rocker-frame of a rocking chair, of a bracket on each frame having a groove or channel and two coiled springs coextensive in height wound in reverse directions and each extended laterally inward at each end toward its axis into a half-loop, with the two loops at each end of the respective springs located in the same plane and both arranged in the groove of a bracket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my nature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. .l. SllULTS.

\Vitnesses:

James L. Nonnis, Janus A. Ro'rnnnronn. 

